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Originally published November 2020
Go to our favorite spot in the neighborhood for amazing Chinese Sausage fried rice, bbq pork, and piping hot jasmine tea. PS Bring a bottle of natural wine to enjoy with your meal.
Our favorite soup dumplings in the neighborhood are not made by a man named Joe. They’re from this Bayard St gem, which in addition to dumplings, precisely-folded in-house, has a menu with dishes that keep us coming back. Among them are the Eggplant with Garlic Sauce and the cold Aromatic Beef. For what it’s worth, DGB also has the best version of cold noodles in sesame sauce - an all-time classic NYC Chinese appetizer.
This is our go-to spot for group dining in Chinatown. You can be bold and pre-order the whole-hog or king-crab for the table, or just get all of your favorites off the menu to share with friends. The garlic chicken, fried rice and spring rolls are always our mainstays. Don’t forget to BYOB for an extra fun time.
Formally a small coffee window and magazine shop, Oliver Coffee evolved into Bar Oliver - now serving coffee, lunch and dinner for an all-day affair. This walk-ins encouraged spot is serving up tapas like no one else.
THE place for a steamed rice roll, Sun Hing Lung holds a special place in our heart. Open from 7:30a-4:30p daily, our recommendation for this cash-only spot is the Chinese sausage and mixed vegetable rice roll, add egg, then covered with plenty of hoisin and hot sauce. While firmly to-go only, these rice rolls are best enjoyed hot while standing on the street.
One of our favorite snacks to get in Chinatown is sliced pork on a fluffy sesame pancake. The best, unquestionably, is at Jin Mei Dumpling. Though, North Dumpling is an honorable mention in this category!
Originally a series of sold-out pop-ups, chefs Anthony Ha and Sadie Mae Burns have opened two extremely booked restaurants in Chinatown in the last year. With modern designs, lots of fish sauce, and a strong-handed Vietnamese influence, the Ha’s Dac Biet universe continues to expand and we’re all watching.
A place we wish stayed open later, Spicy Village is a Henan restaurant serving dishes like their classic Big Tray Chicken (spicy friend and braised chicken, served in its unctuous broth, topped with noodles, and showered in cilantro). If you’re in more of a hurry, grabbing a Pork Pancake to-go is an all-time move and is one of our favorite snacks in Chinatown.
Young star chef Sam Lawrence opened Bridges to much acclaim and earned a Michelin Star within the first year of operation. And that’s to say nothing of the swank interiors by Billy Cotton. Highlights here are their signature Comte Tart and the Cured Tuna with Dates.
On a warm night, you will probably find flocks of noodle lovers spread out across the outdoor tables at this classic Chinatown spot. We recently stopped by for dumplings for “dessert” after a meal around the corner, and it was perfectly simple.
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Annie Shi, the genius behind Chinatown’s hottest wine bar, designed the space to honor the neighborhood through its selection, cuisine, and even its artwork which is by artists of Chinese ancestry. Their selection of wine focuses on natural, low-intervention wines and is complemented by food by Patty Lee (formerly of Mission Chinese.)
Downtown darlings Emily Bode (of the eponymous menswear label) and her husband Aaron Aujla (of design studio Green River Project) have branched into the nightlife scene with this cozy neighborhood bar. Tucked away on Bayard St, next door to Dr. Clark House, The River serves great drinks in their beautiful interiors daily.
In a space that almost appeared to be cursed, Time Again has come to be the most successful iteration yet on the corner of East Canal and Forsyth. In warm months, groups of young trendy drinkers (martinis in hand) spill into the sidewalk and road making for a fun and chaotic vibe that is quintessentially New York.
This coffee shop is dedicated to sourcing coffees from South Korea from a rotating selection of specialty roasters. They’re warm & minimal space full of great flowers and vinyl is serving up the best coffee in the area, plus matching and pastries.
This is the kind of place that’s perfect for everything from a first date, to a friend hang, to a solo afternoon wine. Operating like a French cafe, Casetta opens in the morning for coffee, and carries you through the day and into the night. Get yourself a glass of wine and a baguette sandwich at 61 Hester Street tout suite!
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Ever since we moved to NYC, Da Hing has always been THE plant spot in the neighborhood. Our first pilea plant (almost a decade old!) is still thriving…and that’s all the proof you need that Da Hing has all the good luck plants you need!
Used books? Pickles? The two have a lot more in common than you’d think - especially at this unique Orchard Street storefront. If she’s around, the owner Leigh has phenomenal recommendations. Oh, and if you’ve got some books you’re looking to get rid of, you can trade them here for a jar of their very own pickles.
If you’re looking for produce, meats, or seafood, New Kam Man is not your place…HOWEVER along three stories you’ll find an abundance of pantry ingredients, porcelain homewares, appliances, and an amazing selection of tea, incense and beauty. If you’re hungry, grab a snack from the food counter near the door on your way out.
Located at 383 Broadway, Quarters is a retail project by lighting company In Common With and features a sprawling showroom dotted with vintage pieces, curated kitchen goods, original furniture, and of course: lighting. The space is an absolute bastion of inspiration but the staff is what makes this store so great.
Thanks to NYC watch dealer Mike Nouveau, Chen’s has become a must-visit for anyone shopping vintage watches in NYC. In addition to offering a wide selection of timepieces from affordable lesser-known brands all to the way up to Rolex, Chen’s also offers watch repair services.
We love when a bakery truly draws you in based on the smell (& looks) of its desserts. That’s exactly how we ended up in Audrey Bakery on a day right before closing. Their visually stunning and actually delicious layered cakes are our favorite, but stop by for dessert on the go and snag anything in their cases.
This family business shop (operating since 1890!) is one worthy of supporting. We love Wine on Wo & Co for special ceramic pieces that are perfect housewarming gifts or new additionals to your homewares collection.
This hybrid shop and research library by the Japanese brand of the same name is known for their elevated and considered streetwear. This extension of the brand into a physical space is true to their principle of honing a creative practice by offering a curated selection of books from creative legends like Tadao Ando and Kyösti Varis.
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We’ve always been big on traditions, and going to Magic Jewelry for an aura reading on our birthday is one we never skip! Both of their two locations have the best aura photo readers in the bizz, and we love stopping by for this annual visit (or with out of town friends!)
Located on the border of Chinatown and Tribeca, Alex Teighi-Walker’s live-work gallery is a constant source of inspiration. Keep an eye on their exhibitions page for great shows including past work from artists like Lindsey Adelman, Minjae Kim, and Faye Toogood.
When you’ve exhausted every dinner hang possible, set up a visit to Happy Medium for their “art cafe” hours or for a special workshop like their build a chair class, wheel throwing lessons or life drawing.
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